Stonework from Coptic Church. Old Cairo, Egypt

Object Details

Local Numbers: Negative number 62165 C-9, 37.
General: Title source: Index card based on photographer's notes.
Local Note: Typed index card reads, "T 6 Egy. Egypt. Cairo. St. Menas with baby camels. (20" h. alabaster) at Coptic Church. 3/1961. EE. neg.no. 62165 C-9, 37." The card was written in 1977-79 by Archives staff using source provided by photographer.

See more items in: Eliot Elisofon Field collection; Eliot Elisofon Field collection / Egypt

Archival Repository: Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art

Type: Archival materials; Negatives (photographic); Black-and-white negatives; Negatives

Collection Citation: Eliot Elisofon Field Collection, EEPA 1973-001, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution

Collection Rights: Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

Scope and Contents: "There were many martyrs' shrines in Egypt, but perhaps the most famous of them was that of St. Menas, which lies nearly 70 km to the west of Alexandria. Between 306 and 337, a small oratory was built over the tomb of the warrior saint and martyr, Menas. A few year later, Patriarch Athanasius built the first Church of St Menas at the site. It rapidly achieved a reputation for miracles, and pilgrims flocked to visit the great healing shrine. The figure of the saint is represented standing between two camels." [Watterson B., 1988: Coptic Egypt. Scottish Academy Press]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was working on "The Nile" project and traveled to Africa from March 14, 1961 to March 31, 1961, visiting Egypt.

Collection Restrictions: Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.